The game against Debenham was played on a pitch that has clearly been a victim of the recent bad weather and the middle of the pitch was more like a stream than a football pitch but all the lads from both teams wanted to play and the ref let the game go ahead.
Lots of games over the last couple of seasons have been all about the strikers and the lads getting forward but today it was a game for the defence and they all had a brilliant game to keep a clean sheet against a good side that look better than their league position suggests. The game was end to end to start with and both teams defences coped well with any attacks and the state of the pitch in the middle was making it difficult to play any decent stuff in there and the lads tried to get the ball wide when they could. On 6 minutes Finch made a good tackle and Jack completed the defending by pushing the ball out for a corner, he saved the corner but a poor kick saw the ball come straight back at him but he made another great save with the Debenham striker coming at him, he let his frustration show and the ref had a word with him about his language (rightly so). Debenham kept coming at us and the lads at the back kept knocking them back Tom was working hard down the right and getting forward when he could but most of the space was down the left so we decided to switch Kris and Luke to see if Luke had any joy getting forward and using his left foot to deliver a ball in to the box. It was 12 mins before the Debenham keeper had to make a save and he caught Ryan's cross and played it out. The lads were starting to put a bit of pressure on and getting some joy up front we were winning throws outside the box and were using our long throw to good effect unfortunately John hurt his back taking 1 of his throws and had to come off, George went on and done well but we missed the long throws in to the box. On 20 Finchy won the ball and played a great ball to Ed but again the defence managed to get a foot in and clear the danger, the ball came out to Fish and from 25 yards he looked up and had a shot but it went straight to the keeper. 25 mins George had a good touch and beat his man played a good ball to Ed but again a defender got in the way. We had a good chance on 26 after Rossi had been fouled on the edge of the area Ryan took the kick it was on target but just too close to the keeper the next chance was another Fish long shot but this time it was just over the bar. Both teams were playing some good football but it was always about the defence and every attack was finished by a good block, tackle or save. Both teams had half chances towards the end of the half Jack came out well to deal with a good through ball Debenham hit the bar from a tight angle Ryan had a shot just over the bar we had a good cross from the left go across the face of the goal and no-one could get a touch on it and the final 1 was when Tom hit the post from a corner.
Half Time Debenham 0-0 Saxmundham
The lads started the 2nd half well and won a corner it went to a Debenham player and looking to make a quick break he was closed down well by Ed and Ryan they won the ball and gave it to Tom who put in another good ball but it was dealt with again by the defence. The game was all end to end stuff and on 47 Ed played a ball in from the right just behind Rossi somehow Rossi got a heel on it but it just looped over the bar. George was the next to launch an attack he had switched to left wing and the ball came to him just outside the box he beat 4 players and the easiest bit was to put it in the net but somehow he found the side netting a great run but not a great finish. On 55 we gave the ball away and Debenham broke clear and with the striker 1 on 1 with Jack again he saved it and kept us in the game, there was some more great play between Tom, Ed, Rossi and Arron down the right of the pitch but again it ended with a shot wide. Debenham got a free kick just outside our box after a good strong challenge from Ollie and Kyle charged it down and got a stinger on the Butt it was enough but he felt it for a while. In the last 10 mins had enough chances to win 3 game but unfortunately the ball just wouldn't fall right for a striker. Ed had a couple of chances Luke hit a shot just wide we had 4 corners that would not go in defenders were getting to the ball 1st and whatever we did it was not going to happen. In the last minute of the game it looked like we may pay for our missed chances when Debenham broke out and again were clear through on goal but again Jack came out and made himself big and saved the 1 on 1.
Like I said at the beginning a game for the defenders from both teams the lads all played well in tricky conditions. Fish took a knock in the 2nd half but hopefully him and John with both be fit for next week.
All the lads who played at the back got 10/10 today but Karl and I decided that Jack just edged the MOM for his 3 1on1 saves and in particular the 1 right at the end of he game. The lads should be happy with their performance today and not be too downhearted about not scoring we created lots of chances and on another day some of them would have gone in but it wasn't to be today and a point away from home against a good team is not a bad result.
